Electric connector



Sept. 27, 1949. COOK 2,482,965

ELECTRIC CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 18, 1945 Patented Sept. 27 1949 UNITED STATES PAT ENT F Fl CE ELECTRIC CONNECTOR ':William H. Cook, Toledo, Ohio Application December 18, 1945, Serial No. 635,800 a This invention relates to disconnectable association of electric conductors, usually in pairs, with other electric. terminals or outlets, especially as encased in insulation housing as a general electrical fitting supply.

This invention has utility when incorporated with terminal. pairs ina housing, wherein the lead-in conductor-lines may be givena pinch. action from relative rocking of an insulation member to bind the. lines with. the respective terminals in effective assembly for ready replacement.

Referring. to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts. broken away of a two. prong terminal. connector, embodying features of the inventiontherein;

Fig. 2 is a View fromthe left, or prong projecting end of the connector at Fig. 1.;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofan angle projection or L-prong connector, a. portion being broken away to show the terminal providing prongs;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation ofi theinsulationrocker or conductor line .pinch eiiectingplug. which.

extends thru the connector of Fig. 3, between the terminal pair; 1

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged section thru the plug, .on the line V?V ,..Fig. 4,.showing the pinch effecting camwayfor the conductor lines;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of. the connector insulator section (Fig. 3) from-which the prongs protrude, being the side central of .theconnector, withsome portions broken away;

Fig. 7 is the facing inner. Side of the other in.-. sulator section to the showing in Fig. 6,.bein the.

one to the right in Fig; 3;

, Fig. 8 is another L-prong connector. in which the rocker insulator for the line lock is inalignment with the entrance lines, instead of between the prongs as in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the rocker insulator plug for the line looking. with the terminals in the electric connector or fitting of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an inside view in elevation of the left or prong projection side insulator section of the connector of Fig; 8;

Fig. 11 is the facing or opposite insulator section inside view in elevation,- being thesection at the right iii-Fig.- 8'; and

Fig. 1 2 is a view, partially iii-section and broken away, of a socket or prong receiver connector having the rocker to pinch the conductor lead 7 lines to the :terminals therein.

Figs.1,2'

Electric conductor conduit I has branches 2 6 Claims. (Cl. 17=3361) I 2 cleaned, may be thrust into a threat 4. The branches 2, are directed by a wedge orbrid'ge- 5' to have the Wire strands 3 pass thru a-port 6-and an eyeopening -l in a short rightangle offset 8- from a terminal 9 extendingalong an insulation way It. The ways l-D are diametrically disposed; as outward fromconcentric tubular portion ll of a tubular'main insulation body l2 of theconnector or: fitting, At an'endi l3 of the body [2 remote from the throat 4, the terminals 9- have inward oifsetsto provide shoulders t4, outward from which prong portions extend.

1 In. assembly, between the offsets & and the shoulders 14, a-plug It is. thrust'into the tubular portion H to shift the. terminals 9 alongthe ways lO-to. bring the... openings l into.v aligned proximity to. the ports -6. In this straight thrust placement of the plug l6, 2. lug I1 enters a recess 18 to a stop. position to. an are way l9 therefrom, positively holdingthe plugagainst longitudinal further movement, as to the body l2, when the lug l! is away from the entrance recess l8.

A transverse depression, like a screw head, provides a seat 20 in the exposed central end of the plug [6' centrall'yj'oiithe end l3 of the body [2.

' By placing a coin or screwdriver in the seat 20,

and giving a rocking relative movement for the plug l5 as tothe body T2, the respective cam or wedge faces zlbounding the end of the plug I6, ride under the shoulders M, thus tending to pull-the offsets 8' away from the ports 6' to-rub more closely to plane end 22' of the plug It.

From this end- 22, extend'i-nsul-a-tion ways 23 in the insulation plug it. These'ways 23, at theentrance assembly position when the lug ,l'l enters the recess l8, are in alignment with the ports 6' and the openings l. Accordingly, the'thrustoi -the wirestrands' 3 thru the ports Bextends suchinto the ways 23. Thewedgi-ngrockin action of the plug "5, now swings these strands for a conductor 1 wire lead-in binding and-pinching holding action. As the offset 8' is drawn relattvelytoward the plug -face 22', while the 'ways' 23 move away 'from' alignment with the openings I, the wire" strands are firmly gripped into an efiective electrid conductor connection between the wires 3 and theterminals having the prongs To disconnectgthere may not be current carrying-connectionior such operation. Access to the rockable plug" Itandit-s operating seat 20' may not be-had until the prongs l5 are removed from the: electric current supply outlet, or other electrical connection. A slight counterclock- Wiseeturning of the @plug It, is suflicient to free the wire strands 3, so that they may be withdrawn by pulling on the conduit l. Accordingly the fixture or fittin unit, without the requirement of any special tools, is in readiness for the one using the connector, to have terminally cleaned wire strands, spread and inserted thru the throat 4, one branch each side of the wedge 5 for the strands 3 to pass thru the ports 6, and aligned openings 1 on into the ways 23 in the insulation plug l5. With a coin, a slight clockwise turn serves simultaneously to lock effectively both sets or wire strands.

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

An angle or L-connector (Fig. 3) is shown comprising an insulation section 24 from which prongs 25 project as nested in seats 26 about cylindrical opening 21 having an enlarged diam: eter region 28 from the face of the section 24 from which the prongs 25 protrude. A half throat 29 to a semicylindrical way 30 extends from an end 3| of the section 24.

A complementary insulation section 32, forming the back or outer portion of the installed unit, has a semi-throat 33 to a semicylindrical section 34, adapted for register with the throat portion 29 and way portion 3|! to have an opening 35 in the section 32 align with the openin 2'! in the section 24 and seats 35 register with the seats 26, for key ears seats 31. The prongs 25 have small offsets 38 which enter the seats 31 to retain the terminals 25 in the assembled unit as the sections 24. 32 are assembled by a rocker plug 39 thrust thru the openings 21. 35. A shallow groove portion 4|! of the plug 39 isthru the outer or back side of the section 32, for a spring split locking ring 4| to snap therein and retain the unit assembled.

A wedge or s reader 43 in the way 34 locates a pa r of por s 44 in ali nment with ays 45 at the o osi e side of the o ening 35, When the plug sq ha flornfii', into the assemblv with a turn seat 46 in mid position of the d rection of the way 30, c m a c seats 41 rovide Wav clearance from the ports 44 to the ways 45 The insert position of the l 3!! to the sto provided bv the s t ring 4|. is to bring a lu 48 on the plu 39 into enlar e diameter or seat 28 of the sect n 24. The plu 3!! is t us looked a ainst axial shifting. but is re to be rot ted bv a screw driver or coin. in the seat 45, thereby pinchin the wire strands 3 in the are or cam ooves 41 against the term s 7. in the seats 36.

T e rock ng at the +erminal holdin lu 39 may not be effected unt l the fixture unit is withdrawn as to its pron s 25. say from an outlet or other fitting. As so c eared of electric current, the we ge control may be given a counterclockwise re ease. twist for the wire strands. in the event clockwise turn used to efiiect the holding.

It is to be noted that the way 38 does not run into the opening 21, of the insulation section 24 (Fig. 6). but terminates in deflector means 42 fo directin the inserted wire strands 3 as spread by the wed e 43 to enter the ports 44. Thus. as the reiect wire strands are withdrawn, the replacement strands are readily inserted. and by a rocking in either direction. the cam way portions effect strand pinching firmly to lock for the wires to be conductively snug with the respective terminals 25. The L-connector 25. 24, 32, with its prongs25 to be thrust directly into, say a wall fixture or outlet box, may have the lead conduit I, take oiT in parallelism with such Wall.

4 Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11

Instead of the insulation rocker plug having its axial line parallel to and between the prongs (Fig. 3), an angle connector is provided with a rocker 49 (Fig. 9) seated between insulation sections 50, 5| (Fig. 8) taking the axial line of the lead-in wires thereto. The section 50 has a pair of horns or prongs 52 from an end 53 to a central semi-cylindrical seat 54; From the opposite end 55 of the section 50, a half channel Way 56 extends to a spreader wedge 51 for two port sections 58 to align with openings 59 in angle or flange portion 68 of terminal prongs 6| seated in recesses 62 of the seat 54.

The complementary section 5| to the section 50, has a flush cross portion 63 as to its face to abut the section 50, which cross portion closes in the end of a semi-cylindrical seat 64, to locate the rocker plug 45, between the horns 52 and into the seat 54, for the terminals 6| as protruding thru the recesses 62 in extending out from face 65 of the section 58. The section 5|, in register with the recesses 62, has seat portions 66 for the inner end portions of the terminals 6|. A screw 61 thru an opening 68 in the section 58 enters an internally threaded opening 69 in the section 5|. From an end It, the section 5| has a way 56, to a wedge 5'! and ports 58, complementary to the section 50.

With the rocker plug 49 between the prongs 52 and held against axial shifting by the end portion 63, the member 49 is retained in the seats 54, 54, by the insulation housing assembl screw 6?. At this seated position, notch orseat H as medially approximating a common plane with the direction of the screw 51, the plug 49 has tubular ways 12 in alignment with the ports 58 and the openings 59 in the terminals. Accordingly, at this initial position it .is in order for the one desiring to effect a conductor line assembly therewith, to shove wire strands 3 thru the ,way 56, to be spread by the wedge 51 for the strands from the separate branches 2, to be thrust thru the ports 58, the openings 59 to enter the ways 72. Now it is in order for the one using the connector, to place a coin or screw driver in the notch H and thereby rock the plug 41 either clockwise, or counterclockwise. In this rocking, the ways 12 are moved out of alignment with the openings 59, thereby pinching the wire strands 3 intoa locked and firmly holding electric contact maintaining assembly with each of the terminals 6| at the single operation. Inasmuch as this operating notch or seat H is not readily accessible for line connection or disconnection, except as the connector has its prongs 6| away from electric current carrying source, there is a resultant automatic safeguarding for the operator against electric shock in any Wiring connection, or for the converse, of disconnection, in the normal use of this device.

Fig. 12

Complementary insulation housing sections 13, 14 may be assembled by adhesive 15, after socket terminals 16 are placed in ways 11 therefor. Inwardly from offsets 8 of the terminals 16, at this assembly, a rockable plug 18 having integral therewith a stem 19 and head 88, is also in this housing unit. From an end 8| of the insulation housing, pron insert receiving'ports 82 are in register for electric fixture prongs to be inserted therethru for conductor connection with the terminals 16. 7

Remote from the end 8|, the housing 13, I4,

has aflare 'throat 83 to a spreader or wedge 84 to ports 85 insregister" with openings! in" offsets 8 'from the respective terminals .15.. AThehead Be lies a coin seat or screw driver receiving-notch 86,5 which: as directly-crosswise. to the common line connecting the prong ports 82,1ocates tubular-ways 81 ofthe'plug. 18 in alignment w-ith the openings. I; fiAccordingly, as? aconductonwire branches 2 .:have ":theircleaned frayed wire strands 13 thrust into the throat 83, the branches Z-imay be spread bythe wedge 84' andvthe wire strands 3 passathru theports 85,..the terminal openings 1, and into the ways 8! of thefinsulationplug 1 8. ShouIde'rs 88 on the terminals 16 oppose the offsets 8 and ride against end cam or wedge faces 85 of the plug 18. Upon placing a coin or :screw driver in the seat 86, and giving thereto a clockwise turn fromithe end? 1H,v the entire plug 18, with its stem 19 and head so integral therewith; travel further into the housing, as theyvays 81 are thus :placed out of register or; alignment with the openings in the terminals. ='=There is a combined-pinching from. the axial shifting of the plug, for the strands 3, as well: asrtha-additional pinching'in the out-ofalignrnentroperation. There follows a positive holding ofnthe wire strands-from each of the branches,-.for effective electric-current transmission in the lines thru the connector. Inasmuch as the "conductor wire assembly requires access to the housing end..8l,-the terminals '56,.

must thereby be out-of=circuit relation :with any fitting to:.:be.connected therewith. No special tools are required to disconnect or replace lead wires to this connector. twist by a coin in the seat 86, releases the strands 3 for withdrawal from the housing 13, 4. Other or desired. reconnection of wires is bad by directing properly bare wire strands thru the throat 83. for passing by way of the ports 85, the openings 1, and into the ways 81, for clockwise turning of the plug 18 to simultaneously relock both lines of the branches therewith.

While the region of the rocker plug l5 has a major outer plane end 22, centrally there is a recess so into which may extend a centrallizing projection 9! from the after side of the wedge 5. The key lug l! in the are way is as to the positive holding of assembly is against longitudinally moving the plug It for separation clear of the insulation housing 52. However, in such axial direction of the plug l6, there is sufficient clearance for the lug l! in the way 19, to have the plug rocking effect an adequate locking operation, should the terminals not move. and the cams 2! promote movement of the plug axially in the housing l2. Actually the total movement of the oifset 8 toward the plug end 22 may be but a few thousandths of an inch. The out-ofalignment movement of the ways 23 as to the openings 1, pinch the wire strands 3 at the corners of the openings 1. As the strands 3 are clear of the offset 8, the pressure release there prompts a bulking or enlarged thickness re ion for the strands 3. The second abrupt direction change for the strands 3, is against the opposite side to this loosening, as the pushing side of the ways 23 effect this locking operation on the wire strands 3.

Similarly to the centering feature for the plug it (Fig. l.) of the plug recess so to receive the projection 9!, the plug 49 (Fig, 9) may be centered by projection sections 92 (Figs. 10, 11) to enter a seat 93 (Fig. 9). Along an analogous A counterclockwise Gil 6. line; .of construction, a:- rojection 94 :(Figa 12) mayenter aseat 95' in the-rocker or: plug 18. There is practical worth in these cooperating interfitting portions at the region intermediate the different strands: approach" to the rocker plugs. Should any straywir'e strand miss the terminal opening, it may-not readily be sufficiently astray to become associated. across the central region of the rocker with the opposite or different electric current. Occasion for shorting or objectionable disturbance is thus avoided.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. An electric: connector comprisingan insulation housing having a terminal locating seat therein, there being'a way to the seat for a conductor, aiterminal in: the seat having an'offset provided with an opening through the offset in fined'register'with the way fora conductor; and a movable insulation member in thehousin'g hava'way portion to receive a conductor extendthru .the terminal offset opening. said memher being shiftable in the housing relatively to theterniinal offset thereby to lock the conductor. extending thruthe offset opening against removal from the terminal opening. 2. An electric connector insulation housing having therein from a common face, a central recess with'opposite channel side's forming seats, a pair of terminals adapted to seat in the housing channel sideseats with prong portions to extend therebeyondfrom the common face, and a relatively rotatable insulation plug adapted to be inserted in the housing recess thereby to fix the terminals in the seats to a locking position of assembly therefor with the housing, said housing away from said common face having conductor lead in way means, said terminals having offsets providing Openings in register with the way means, and conductor leads thru the way means protruding thru the openings to be engaged by the plug in plug rotation relatively to the housing to grip said leads with the terminals.

3. An electric connector comprising an insulation housing having from a face thereof a recess with a pair of terminallocating seats therealong, from a different face of the housing there being conductor directing way means to the seats, a terminal in each seat, said respective terminals each having an opening thru an offset and held by the seats into register with a conductor thru the way means, said conductors, and an insulation member in the recess having way means to register with the terminal offset openings to receive protruding end portions of the conductors, said member being shiftable in and relatively to the recess thereby to bend conductor protruding end portions against the offsets in looking the terminals with the conductors.

4. An electric connector comprising an insulation cylindrical housing having'a conductor-directing opening from one end to a wedge guide and a plug member receiving recess from the other end, there being terminal-locating seats along the recess'communicating with the conductor opening at opposite sides of the wedge guide, terminals in the seats having'inner end offsets with openings in register with the conductor opening adjacent the guide, an insulation plug member in the recess having conductor-endreceiving openings adapted to abut and register with the offset openings, and a conductor pair insertable into the housing conductor-directing opening and spaced by the wedge to pass thru the offset openings and enter the member conductorend-receiving openings, said housing and member having coaction holding means against outward shifting of the member upon angular movement relatively to the housing-held terminals in thereby bending the conductor ends against the offsets of the terminals at the openings.

5. An electric connector comprising an insulation two-part housing having a terminal communication face at one side and a conductor-receiving opening at a difierent side, said latter opening extending to a wedge guide, the terminal communication face having a recess with terminal-locating seats along opposite sides thereof to communicate with the opening, terminals in the seats having perforated end oifsets in proximity to the guide, a relatively rotatable insulation member seated in the recess and coacting to position the terminals in the housing, said membe! having conductor end receiving openings adapted to register with the terminal offset peri forations, and a conductor pair insertable into the conductor-receiving opening and directed by the guide to have end portions pass thru the terminal perforations and enter the insulation member openings, whereby rotation of the member relatively to the housing effects pinch holding of the conductors with the terminals at the offsets.

6. An electric connector comprising an insulation housing with an exposed outer face and therefrom a central recess with its contour interrupted by way-providing channels forming seats having general direction away from said face, a

pair of terminals having portions complementary to and sufliciently in register with different spaced seats to leave portions of said terminals approximate closing of the channels in approaching conformity with the contour of said recess, said terminals having prong portions extending from said face, and an insulation plug insertable into said housing recess and there rotatable relatively to the housing and terminals to lock the terminals in fixed assembly with the housing and plug, said housing and plug having interfitting projection and recess portions coacting for ready detachment and reassembly.

WILLIAM H. COOK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,382,753 Tefft June 28, 1921 1,618,939 Marth Feb. 22, 1927 1,637,836 Rubin Aug. 2, 1927 1,645,650 Kirkman Oct. 18, 1927 2,097,603 Ruth Nov. 2, 1937 2,277,161 Sickinger Mar. 24, 1942 2,390,852 Stee Dec. 11, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 476,897 Germany May 28, 1929 519,974 Germany Mar. 7, 1931 

